Duke Star Cameron Boozer Reveals Fractured Eye Suffered Against UConn
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Duke forward Cameron Boozer has a visibly swollen eye as he speaks after winning the Oscar Robertson Player of the Year awarded by the Associated Press and the U.S. Basketball Writers Association during a news conference at the Final Four. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
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Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.The day before the NCAA basketball championship game — which many expected top overall seed Duke to play in — Blue Devils star Cameron Boozer still carried significant battle scars.
As he went through the award circuit, his right eye was noticeably swollen and bloodshot.
“I have a couple of fractures, but I’m all good,” he said, “just going through the healing process.”
Cameron, who decided to forgo surgery, sustained the injury last Sunday in the 73-72 Elite Eight loss to Connecticut on a collision, even though no foul was called.
During the game a Duke staffer even applied a soda can to his eye to alleviate the swelling.
In addition to his physical scars, emotional ones remain after Duke lost on a game-ending, miraculous 35-foot shotfrom Connecticut guard Braylon Mullins.
“I don’t have the words,” Duke head coach Jon Scheyer said after the game, “other than just how proud I am of these guys and how disappointed we are.”
Cameron’s twin brother, Cayden, committed the turnover, which ultimately led to the deflection, steal and Mullins’ game-winner.
After the game Cayden told reporters he was responsible for the loss, but Cameron, of course, supported his brother, who played extremely well in the NCAA Tournament while filling in for the injured Caleb Foster as the team’s starting point guard.
“That one play isn’t the reason we lost,” Cameron said. “There’s not really that much I can say to make him feel better. We’re all hurting as a team.”
Cameron hasn’t officially declared for the NBA draft, but it would be a shocking if he returned to Duke because he is a projected top three pick.
“I’m just a winning player and all-around player,” Cameron said. “I impact the game in so many different ways. I think just my competitiveness translates to any level. So, I mean, yeah, I think any team who takes a chance on me is going to be very happy with the results they get.”
Last year’s No. 3 overall pick in the NBA draft, VJ Edgecombe, signed a four-year, $50.4 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.
In addition to those similarly-projected earnings, Cameron is a popular product spokesman.
He and Cayden were omnipresent during March Madness while appearing in amusing national commercials for State Farm and Samsung Galaxy. He and Cayden also are the rare college athletes to be paid spokesmen for the Jordan Brand while still in college.
He was a logical player to receive such attention. The son of former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer led Duke in points (22.5), rebounds (10.2) and assists (4.1).
His value to Duke is why his Easter Sunday started with receiving the Naismith Award for Player of the Year at a swank brunch at the Indiana Roof Ballroom, where he shared a table with his parents and Duke great Christian Laettner.
He capped the day by receiving the Oscar Robertson Trophy as the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) Player of the Year.
“It’s definitely hard being here, knowing we should still be playing, but again I’m super thankful,” Cameron said. “I’m so grateful.”
This article was originally published on Forbes.com